Feature Article from Hemmings Muscle Machines

Notice we're not including any 1/18th-scale models this month. Not because we don't have any in our grab bag, but because we had several itty-bitties screaming for attention, and figured we'd clear them all out at once. Thus, we present Mini Mini Muscle.
Spark Models, which seems to be an offshoot of Macau-based Minimax, is rather unfamiliar to us, but maybe we should seek out more of their models. The first thing we noticed about their Magnum was the weight--or lack thereof. The minimalist display case still weighs more than the model itself. This didn't portend well, until we took a closer look.
The maroon paint looks smoother than the paint on most 1/18th-scale models we see around here. The details, especially the taillamps and the exhaust outlets, look about as spot-on as you can get at 1/43rd-scale. Even the rotors remain stationary behind the wheels when the latter turn--if it's that simple to do in this scale, then why don't larger scales implement the feature?
The dash looks quite detailed, along with the steering wheel, but Spark failed to include front seats--only back seats are visible through the windshield. And the chassis has absolutely no detail. The price seems rather high for something that weighs so little, but both weight and price could probably go much higher.
1/24th-scale 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Johnny Lightning • 708-547-5068 • tritown.bobnivak.net • $19.95
From the same series as the yellow Superbird reviewed last month, this Z/28 doesn't have much going for it. Neither doors nor trunk open, not that surprising given the 1/24th scale, but the front wheels turn and a semblance of plug wires decorate the 302 engine under the opening hood.
Yet the castings look chunky, like a seven-year-old with fat fingers sculpted the molds. Hardly a line denotes the door and trunklid edges and the general shape of the car looks too wide and too short from nose to tail. Meanwhile, the wheels look utterly tiny in proportion to the car, but actual measurements bear them out to be the 1/24th-scale version of 16-inchers. The tampos and silver paint tend to look overly thick, and the front suspension cradle nearly scrapes the ground. The good: It looks fairly accurate.
For some reason, though, these seem fairly hard to find nowadays. Buy it, keep it in its box and forget about it for 20 years would be our advice.
1/43rd-scale 1967 Ford Mustang "Silk Black"
Rod 43rd, by Brooklin Models • 540-375-3750 • www.brasiliapress.com • $95.00
Oh, great, I thought, as this landed on my desk. Another Mad Max clone. On a Mustang this time. Doesn't anybody research their models anymore? I mean, this one comes from Rod 43rd, one of the Brooklin Models lines. They build Brooklins in England, which should theoretically be closer, culturally, to Australia, right? They should at least have a clue that Max didn't tool around the Outback in a Mustang, right?
Then I realized that some Hollywood studio still has the Mad Max licensing rights and that basing a knockoff model on a Mustang, rather than a Falcon XB GT, then fitting it with twin fuel tanks, a through-the-hood blower and zoomies just ahead of the rear wheels would easily skirt any licensing fees while still invoking the Oz masterpiece.
Like any Brooklin model, this one feels solid via the white-metal casting. The flat black paint looks great and all the small chrome bits are actual separate pieces rather than cast into the car and painted silver. Yet (again, like any Brooklin model) the glue that holds them on isn't terribly strong, and when I got this, the right-side zoomies had already fallen off. Maybe not a necessity for any Mad Max collection, but still an intriguing model.

This article originally appeared in the December, 2006 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines.